According to
Michael Barnes over at the Statesman, long time music landmark, and ex-smoky dive The Back Room, will close on July 29th, victim of Austin's ravenous development. Metal fans across Texas are encouraged to wear black leather or T-shirts to note the bars demise and it's becoming just another footnote in Austin's music history. In its 30 year battle millions of braincells were killed and potentially hundreds of children conceived on its premises.
Over the years The Back Room has hosted literally thousands of bands on its stages, and it's closure will leave a great venue gap in Austins metal scene. The Back Room can be added to that list of dead venues now marked by the cold steel and concrete headstone of developement that has already claimed such famous venues as the
Armadillo World Headquarters and Liberty Lunch. Luckily other stalwart clubs such as The Continental Club and Emo's have survived, and newer venues such as Stubb's and La Zona Rosa have come onto the scene and risen to the legendary status. Lets hope that Austin's metalheads find a new place to call home.
A very very partial listing of some of the bands that have appeared there include the following:
- Cheap Trick
- Guadalcanal Diary
- Sugar Cubes
- the Plasmatics
- Public Enemy
- Linkin Park
- Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones
- King’s X
- Ace Frehley
- Slash
- Pantera
- Warren Zevon
- George Clinton & the P Funk All Stars
- Dangerous Toys